Cairo University reverses cancellation of professor’s sabbatical

Cairo University has reversed its earlier decision to cancel faculty of arts Assistant Professor Kholoud Saber’s sabbatical, Saber reported on her Facebook page on Monday.

In December, Cairo University informed Saber that her sabbatical, which the university had granted her to pursue her doctoral studies at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, had been canceled. It ordered her to abandon her scholarship and return to Egypt to resume work as assistant professor.

The university explained in an email to Saber that its decision was based on a report by the Survey and Information Office, an affiliate of the Ministry of Higher Education the is believed to be the unofficial security office at the ministry.

The move was met with condemnation from academic freedoms advocates, and was decried as an infringement on the independence of universities.

Several rights organizations issued a statement last week condemning the decision, declaring: “Cairo University’s decision shows the disintegration of the principles of the independence of universities as it relies on the recommendation of an executive body [the Ministry of Higher Education], which is a disguise for the intervention of the security apparatus in universities.”

Saber — who is known for her advocacy work for university independence and academic freedom — had declined to leave Belgium and challenged the decision with a case at the Administrative Court on February 4.

In his letter retracting the decision, Cairo University President Gaber Nassar instructed Saber to stay in Belgium to continue her studies and wrote that all her financial rights that had been suspended were reinstated.

On her Facebook page, Saber thanked those who had supported her and asserted that her case is proof that pressure works.